Hair curler



Sept. 12, 1939.

| w. HUMPHREY 2,172,582

HAIR CURLER INVENTOR. yo 14 Hump/fray ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to hair curlers, the object being to provide a simple and inexpensive device for forming curled locks of hair on the head of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of a simple construction by which the user may curl a lock of hair and after the ends of the lock are curled to apply a hairpin thereto by the act of withdrawing the curler from the curled lock.

It is also a feature and object of the invention to provide an outer element having a spring clasp to engage the end of a lock of hair and rotatable upon an inner member to roll the lock about the outer member and thereafter, in withdrawing the device longitudinally from within the lock, a hairpin carried by the inner member may engage the curled lock of hair in a manner to hold the curl from unrolling as the pin is automatically placed by removal of the curler from the lock.

These and other various objects and novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of construction of a hair curling device embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the device applied to the end of a lock of hair.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof showing the hairpin as carried thereby.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view taken from the left side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative form of construction of the curler.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of an alternative form of that portion of the curler carrying the hairpin.

Fig. 7 is another alternative form wherein the hairpin is carried at a different angle to the axis of its holder than isv the case in the structure shown in Fig. 6.

Fig.8 is a longitudinal section of an alternative form of construction.

The device may be formed of any convenient material as wood, metal or a composition and consists of the rotatable member I to which is secured a recessed and preferably knurled end or head 2 by which the member may be rotated. In the construction shown, a spring strip 3 is secured to the knurled end 2 by introducing an end introduced thereunder. This member I may then be rotated on the inner member 5 which extends longitudinally thereof and is flanged at 6 to engage over the end of the member I within a knurled member 2. The member 5, in the construction shown in Fig. 2, has a plug 1 therein formed with a coned end 8 which provides a recess between the coned end and the inner face of the member 5 for introduction of one prong 9 of the hairpin therein. This plug I is sufficiently distant from the outer end of the member 5 to permit a considerable portion of the length of the hairpin prong 9 to extend thereinto and bring the other prong H] to. engagement with the end of the member 5 so that it extends generally at a sharp angle to the longitudinal axis of the curler.

The hairpin is preferably held with the prong l0 uppermost, in the relationship of the parts shown in Fig. l, and after rolling the lock of hair on the member I, the device is withdrawn longitudinally by the knurled end 2. This movement withdraws the clamp 3 and member I out of the curl and simultaneously draws the member 5 therewithin thuspositioning the hairpin prong ID on the outside of the curl at about the point of contact of the strand of hair with the rolled lock as indicated in Fig. 4, and with the other prong 9 inserted centrally of the curl. This holds the curl from unrolling. The user curls look after lock of hair until the hair on the head of the user is desirably covered with curls and the pins may be left in place for a considerable period of time as for instance, overnight. The pins may then be removed and the locks will retain the curled form for a considerable period of time.

The invention is not confined to the specific construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as the device may be constructed after the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this case, the rotatable barrel I has a preferably knurled portion 2 which engages over the end of the tube to the position shown in section in Fig. 5 and a rod formed of wood or any convenient material, indicated at 5*, extends through the tube I and to the end thereof in the knurled end 2* is attached a washer 6 The washer holds the rod 5 from material longitudinal movement and the tube i and head 2 are revoluble on the rod.

The spring clip 3* is of the same general conthe rod may be provided with an axial recess 20 or such recess may be formed at an angle to the axis as indicated at 2| in Fig. '7. The hairpin may be of any desired form of structure and is operable in substantially the same manner as described in respect to the construction shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. '7, the outer prong 22 of the hairpin may stand at a sharper angle to the axis of the curling device than is the case withtheouter-prong of the pin shown in Fig. 6.

It is pointed out that, in either of the forms of the invention shown, the hairpin may be readily supporting in place by the act of spreading the prongs, one to engage the exterior andthe other the interior of the hairpin section, and that the act of positioning the hairpin spreads the prong under spring tension and. is thusstressed to a position to receive the formed curl between the prongs as the device is removed therefrom, What I have termed the hairpin section 5 or 5 isrotatable relative to the curling section 1 or 1 and thus the hairpin, by rotation of the supporting section therefor, may be placed with its prongs to engage the outer surface of the curl at its point of departure from the rolled curl and with the inner prong on the inside of the curl, thus preventing the curl from unrolling.

In the alternative form illustrated in Fig. 8, the general structural relationship of the parts is the same as in Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that the knurled end 30, corresponding generally to that of the end 2 in Fig. 1, has an axial aperture opening to the interior of the device; In the construction shown, it opens to the interior of the hairpin section 5* which has the pin supporting plug 7 in the end thereof. The axial aperture of the knurled head 30 receives a headed plug 3| and hairpins 32 may be introduced thereinto. The device not only provides a curler for the positioning of the hairpin on the lock but also serves as a receptacle for a series of pins.

The particular form of hairpin shown in Fig. 8 is well adapted for use with this device as will be understood from the hairpin 33 about to be introduced as such pins have one of the prongs outturned relative to the other at the end 34. This enables the other prong 35 to be placed with its end on the outer side of the tubular element, '5, 5 or 5 as the case may be and by downward pressure, the prong carrying the outturned end 34 is depressed as the device is inserted thereinto to engagement with the element '7 after the man-.

ner indicated in Fig. 2 and thus it is with the greatest ease that the hairpin is positioned with its prongs properly spread for introduction onto the curl.

The device shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 functions in the same manner as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and also serves to make evident the fact that various departures from the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed, the essential characteristics of the device being the rotatable barrel on which the lock of hair may be curled, which may be termed the curling section, and the projecting end of the inner element on which the barrel is rotatable which provides a hairpin supporting section.

By means of this hairpin section, the pin may be so aligned with the formed curl that, in the withdrawal of the curling section from the curled lock, the pin section is drawn therethrough and actually applies the pin to the curl with one prong on the outside of the curl at about the point the lock contacts the periphery of the curl and the other prong within the curl.

It is pointed out that the hairpin as carried by the device has the prongs spread apart to a greater or less extent but not sufficiently to so bend the pin at the head 23 that it will remain spread but, on the contrary, to permit the prongs to approach each-other undertension and thus clasp the curl and retain the same in curled form.

From the foregoing .description it is believed evident that the device is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction; that, by the use I of this device, the hair may be formed into curls and in curled form without the use of the cumbersome curling papers or devices commonly used and 'which remain in place on the head of the user and thus are inconvenient and objectionable. With this device, nothing remains on the head of the user after the curls have been formed except the ordinary, practically invisible hairpins which are not inconvenient or troublesome to the user if the same remain in the hair overnight to thereby set the curl thus permitting removal of the hairpins without the curls becoming uncoiled. It is further believed evident that the various objects and features of the invention are attained by the structure described.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is' 1. A hair curling device comprising an outer tubular member, an inner member on which the outer member is rotatable, the two members be ing held from material axial displacement, the interior member projecting outwardly of the end of the'rotatable member, a'clamp element for clamping the end of a lock of hair to the rotatable member, said clamp element comprising a flexible and resilient element in closely spaced relation with the rotatablemember and an end fixed thereto, whereby, through rotation thereof,

the lock end is spirally curled thereabout, a hairpin having one of its prongs supported in the end of the inner member and the other prong extending outwardly therefrom at a comparatively sharp angle to the axis of the inner member whereby, on withdrawal of the device longitudinally from the curled lock, the hairpin is drawn to position with the last named prong on the outside of the curl and the first named prong on the interior thereof. a

2. A hair curling device comprising an outer element and an inner element on which the outer element is rotatable, the inner element extending from the end of the outer element, means comprising a flat spring strip attached at one end to the outer element for engaging the end of a lock of hair and, through rotation of said element, the lock is rolled thereon to form' a comparatively tight curl, the projecting end of the inner element being constructed to hold a hairpin with the, prongs separated under spring tension, the outer prong lying at a comparatively sharp angle to the other whereby, subsequent to the formation of the curl, the device, by longitudinal withdrawal, positions the pin with the respective prongs on the outside and inside of thecurl and clamps the curl under spring tension.

3. A hair curling device comprising a hair curling section and a pin supporting section in concentric relation, a pin supporting section extending for a distance greater than the length of the hairpin beyond the hair curling section, the hair curling section being rotatable on the pin supporting section to form a curled lock of hair thereon, a hairpin carried by the pin section with its prongs separated whereby, when released from association with the pin section, the prongs may appreach each other under spring tension, means for supporting one of the prongs at the outer end of the pin supporting section permitting withdrawal by relative logitudinal movement whereby, on withdrawal of the device from the formed curl, the hairpin is moved to position with one prong within the curl and the other prong on the exterior thereof and on longitudinal separation of the pin section from the curl releasing the pin to clamp the curl between the prongs.

4. A hair curling device comprising a hollow cylinder arranged to receive and curl a lock of hair spirally under tension to form a curl, a handle element for the end of the cylinder having an aperture in its end, a plug for the said end providing access to the interior of the cylinder, a rotatable member of lesser diameter at the opposite end of the cylinder adapted at its outer end to support a hairpin with its prongs opened and by rotation of the same relative to the cylinder aligning the prongs with the portion of the curl to be engaged therebetween whereby, on removal of the formed curl from the winding cylinder onto the rotatable member, the hairpin is positioned with a prong on the itnerior and a prong on the exterior of the curl thereby pinning the same in curled form.

5. A hair curling device comprising a hair curling section and a hairpin section in concentric and rotatable relationship, a hairpin supporting means in the hairpin section, a hairpin carried by the said hairpin section with one of its prongs engageable with the said hairpin supporting means and the other of the said prongs separated from the first said prong to extend at an acute angle to the exterior surface of the hairpin section, said hairpin supporting means limiting the extent to which the pin prong may be introduced into the pin section and thereby maintaining the other hairpin prong, when fully inserted in a position with its end at one side of the curl being formed on the hair curling section, through relative rotation of the hair curling and hairpin sections.

6. In combination, a pair of complementary hair clamping components, one of said components being a flat spring strip and the other being cylindrical in external form, the two parts being secured together at one end with the spring member in parallel and normally spaced relation with the cylindrical member, a hairpin, a member rotatably supported by the opposite end of the said cylindrical member and extending therefrom in axial alignment therewith, a hairpin having a pair of juxtaposed arms, one of said arms being slidably retained by the rotatable member,

and the other arm engaging the rotatable member and holding the arms widely separated with the last named arm at an acute angle to the exterior surface of said member in position to receive the formed curl as the curler is removed therefrom.

I. A hair curling device, comprising an inner hollow cylinder and an outer cylinder rotatable thereon and held from longitudinal displacement therewith, a cap member for one end of the outer cylinder having a closable opening permitting the hairpins to be introduced into the interior of the inner hollow member which provides a receptacle therefor, the inner hollow cylinder extending outwardly of the opposite end of the outer cylinder and adapted to support a hairpin at its outer end with one of its prongs within the hollow cylinder and the other prong extending at an angle to the outer surface thereof, means carried by the outer cylinder and forming in conjunction therewith a pair of hair clamping components by rotation of which a curl may be formed, the arrangement providing that after the curl is formed the device may be withdrawn longitudinally therefrom to bring the hairpin with one of its prongs within the curl and the other of its prongs outside of the curl.

8. A hair curling device comprising a hair curling section and a hairpin section in concentric and rotatable relationship, a hairpin carried by the said hairpin section with one of its prongs insertible in the end thereof and the other of its prongs separated from the first said prong to extend at an acute angle to the exterior surface thereof, said hairpin section being arranged to limit the extent to which the corresponding prong may be introduced thereinto to thereby maintain the other prong in position with its end spaced from the hair curling section preventing engagement of the said last named prong with the curl during its formation through relative rotation of the hair curling and hairpin section and in position to engage over the curl as the device is moved longitudinally out of the formed curl and leaving the other prong interiorly thereof.

9. In combination, a pair of complementary hair clamping components, one of said components being of spring material and having an end thereof fixed to an end of the other, a hairpin, and a member rotatably carried by said other component and having means for removably sustaining the arms of the pin widely separated.

10. In combination, a pair of complementary hair clamping components, one of the components being a flat spring strip and the other of a tubular form, said components being secured together at one end with the spring member normally in parallel spaced relation with the tubular member between which a lock of hair may be secured.

LOYD W. HUMPHREY. 

